Apparatus for walking on water



June 13, 1967 G. FEKETE APPARATUS FOR WALKING ON WATER Filed Oct. 19. 1966 INVENTOR. GYULA FEKETE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,324,820 APPARATUS FOR WALKING ON WATER Gyula Fekete, 1019 High St., McKeesport, Pa. 15132 Filed Oct. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 587,744 4 Claims. (Cl. 115-26) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 443,712, filed Mar. 29, 1965.

This invention relates to apparatus adapted to float on Water, and more particularly to floating apparatus which enables a person to move across the water.

As an overall object, the present invention seeks to provide floating apparatus of the type described, having improved construction and operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide floating apparatus which enables a person to skate or glide upon the surface of a body of water.

A further object of the present invention is to provide floating apparatus of the type described which is powered by the rider and provides exercise which is conducive in maintaining good health.

In accordance with the present invention, floating apparatus is provided comprising a pair of floats each having a rigid frame secured thereto and extending outboard thereof. A pair of connecting bars extend transversely across the floats and have their opposite corresponding ends pivotally connected to the ends of the rigid frames. The arrangement is such that movement of either of the floats in one direction compels movement of the other float in the opposite direction. A seat and handlebar arrangement is provided at the center of the connecting bars. Foot pedals are provided each of which is connected to one of the rigid frames whereby movement of either of the pedals causes movement of the associated rigid frame in a direction opposite to the movement of the foot pedal.

Fins are supported at the ends of the floats for free swinging motion about horizontal axes. The arrangement is such that when one of the floats is submerged, the fins associated therewith will be displaced into a vertical position. Stop means is provided for stopping the fins in the aforesaid vertical position wherein the fins act on the water and resist backward motion of the float. Simultaneously, the opposite float glides on the surface of the body of water and is moved forward. Repetition of this opera tion, that is, sequential submersion of the floats will cause the apparatus to move forward across the water.

The above and other objects and advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the present floating apparatus;

FIG. '2 is a front view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating a pivotal connection between a rigid frame and connecting bars;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of carriage means for slideably support-ing the connecting bars on the floats;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV1V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a fin supported on a float and illustrating stop means associated with said fin;

3,324,820 Patented June 13, 1967 FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of handlebars provided on the present floating apparatus; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic plan views of the present floating apparatus illustrating its operation in moving forward across a body of water.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a floating apparatus 10 which, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a pair of spaced, substantially parallel floats 12, 14 having rigid frames 16, 18 secured at a central location thereon and extending outboard thereof. The rigid frames 16, 18 have frame ends 20 which are remote from the floats 12, 14. A main connecting bar 22 and a secondary connecting bar 24 extend transversely across and above the floats 12, 14 and have their opposite corresponding ends pivotally connected to the frame ends As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting bar 22, for example, may be pivotally connected to the frame 18 by means of a fastener 26 and preferably has a wedge 28 interposed between the ends of the frame 18 and the connecting bar 22 to maintain the angular relation between the connecting bar 22 and the frame 18. It is to be understood that the secondary connecting bar 24 will be pivotally connected to the rigid frames 16, 18 in a similar manner.

A post 34 is secured at a central location on the connecting bar 22 and projects thereabove to support a seat 32 adapted to carry a rider and a pair of handlebars 34. Below the handlebars 34 and the seat 32 is a pair of foot pedals 36, 37 which are carried on lever arms 36a, 37a connected to the inner ends of separate shafts 38, 39, respectively. The shafts 38, 39 are journaled to the main connecting bar 22. The opposite ends of the shafts 38, 39 are provided with stub shafts 40 depending at right angles thereto. A flexible cable 42 connects each of the stub shafts 40 to one of the rigid frames 16, 18. The shafts 38, 39 provide generally horizontal axes about which the pedals 36, 37 are pivotal. As will be more fully described later, the overall arrangement is such that when either of the foot pedals 36, 37 is forcibly pushed in a downward direction, one of the rigid frames, for example, the rigid frame 18, will tend to move in a backward direction while, simultaneously, the other rigid frame, that is, frame 16, will be compelled to move in a forward direction.

Inasmuch as the floats 12, 14 will move relative to the connecting bars 22, 2-4 and in order to minimize the strain on the pivotal connections at the ends 2!] of the rigid frames 16, 18, carriage means 44 are interposed between each of the floats 12, 14 and the main connecting bar 22. As will be described, the carriage means 44 are sl-ideably connected to the main connecting bar 22 and are movable on rollers along the floats 12, 14.

To provide motive power for the floating apparatus 10, fins 46, 47 are supported at the ends of the floats 12, 14, respectively, for free swinging movement about generally horizontal axes. The fins 46, 47 are normally disposed in a horizontal plane and are displaceable into a vertical position by the water when the float carrying the same is submerged. Stop means, preferably in the form of pins 48, stop the fins 46, 47 in the vertical position wherein the fins act against the water to resist backward move ment of one of the floats 12, 14.

One of the carriage means 44 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. It will be understood that both of the carriage means 44 are identical in construction.

The carriage means 44 comprises a pair of rollers 50 rotatably supported on a buggy 52. The rollers 50 are trough-shaped and conform to the circular configuration of the float 12. The floats 12, 14 are provided with a tubular element 54, formed from relatively rigid material, which is engaged by the rollers 56. Journaled to the buggy 52 for rotation about a vertical axis is a support shaft 56 having a tubular slide 58 secured at its upper end. The tubular slide 58 receives the main connecting bar 22 and is slideable relative thereto. The overall arrangement is such that, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the carriage means 44 is covable along the float 12 while, at the same time, the carriage means 44 is slideable along the main connecting bar 22.

One of the fins 46, 47 and the stop means will now be described with reference to FIGS. and 6. It is to be understood that the following description applies to all of the fins 46, 47 and the stop means.

The fins 47 is hinged to a rod 60 which is rigidly connected to and extends from the float 14. Plates 62 are secured to the rod 60 and project from either side thereof. The plates 62 are positioned to be engaged by the fin 47 and prevent it from swinging downwardly into the water.

The pin 48 is slideable in sleeve 64 supported within the float 14. A cable 66 extending through a protective sheath, is connected to the pin 48 and extends therefrom, as will be described, to the handlebars 34 (FIG. 1). A spring 68 is interposed between the pin 48 and an end wall 70 of the sleeve 64. The arrangement is such that when the cable 66 is pulled, the pin 48 is retracted into the sleeve 64 and out of the path of travel of the fin 46. However, when the cable 66 is released, the spring 68 will urge the pin 48 into its projecting position illustrated in FIG. 5, that is, into the path of travel of the fin 46.

Each of the pins 48 is connected to a cable 66. The cables 66 pass along the floats 12, 14 (FIGS. 1, 3) along one of the rigid frames 16, 18 (FIG. 4) and into the connecting bar 22, as shown in FIG. 2. Within the connecting bar 22, two of the cables 66 are connected to an operating cable 72 which extends through the main connecting bar 22 to the post 30 and then to the handlebars 34. It should be understood, at this time, but the cables 66 connected to the pins 48 carried on the float 12 have one operating cable 72 while the cables 66 connected to the pins 48 carried on the float 14 have a second operating cable 72.

As shown in FIG. 7, each of the operating cables 72 is connected to a handle 74. As is conventional, the handles 74 are spring-biased into the open position shown in FIG. 7. When either of the handles 74 are pulled into the position shown, for example, in dotted outline in FIG. 7, the corresponding operating cable 72 will be pulled causing the pins 48 connected thereto to be pulled into the corresponding sleeves, as described above. Consequently, the rider may render the fins 46, 47 of the floats 12, 14 inoperative for propelling the floating apparatus in a forward direction. In this manner, only one of the floats 12, 14 is operative and during each of its strokes, the apparatus 10 will be caused to turn.

In this connection, let us assume, for example, that the fins 46 are rendered inoperable by pulling the pins 48 associated therewith. Each time the float 12 is caused to move backward, it will move backward with relatively little resistance. However, when the float 14 is caused to move backward, the fins 47 will be raised into the vertical position causing the apparatus 10 to move forward and, at the same time, causing the apparatus 10 to execute a slight right turn. Conversely, when the fins 47 are 4 rendered inoperable, the apparatus 10 is caused to execute a left turn.

Operation of the present floating apparatus 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 8 and 9. In order to propel the apparatus 10 in a forward direction, the rider places his feet on the foot pedals 36, 37. By shifting his weight to the right side of the apparatus 10 and forcibly pushing the right foot pedal 36, the float 14 is submerged while the float 12 rests atop the body of water. At the same time, the fins 47 will be displaced into a vertical position by the water, as schematically shown in FIG. 8. Simultaneously, the rigid frame 18 will tend to move in a backward direction. However, the fins 47 acting on the water, resist this backward motion whereby the float 12 will be compelled to move forward. At the end of the stroke, the connecting bars 22, 24 will be angled as shown in FIG. 8, with the float 12 forward of the float 14.

At this time, the rider shifts his weight to the left side of the apparatus 10 and forces the left foot pedal 37 in a downward direction. The float 12 will now be submerged in the water while the float 14 rests on the surface of the water. Submergence of the float 12 will cause the fins 46 to be displaced into a vertical position wherein they act against the water to resist backward movement of the float 12. Hence, the float 14 will be compelled to move forward, At the end of this second stroke, the connecting bars 22, 24 will be angled in the position as shown in FIG. 9 with the float 14 forward of the float 12. Repeating these two operations in sequence, will cause the apparatus 10 to move forwardly across the water.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with one specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for walking on water, comprising in combination: a pair of spaced, substantially parallel floats; a rigid frame secured to and extending outboard of each of said floats, said rigid frames having frame ends remote from said floats; a pair of connecting bars extending transversely across and above said pair of floats and having corresponding opposite ends pivotally .connected to said frame ends for pivotal movement about axes substantially normal to said connecting bars, whereby movement of either ofsaid floats in one direction compels movement of the other said floats in the opposite direction; a seat supported centrally above said connecting bars for carrying a rider; handlebars adjacent said seat and adapted to be grasped by a rider; a pair of foot pedals adjacent to said seat and supported for accurate movement about second axes substantially parallel with said connecting bars; means for connecting each of said foot pedals in driving relation with one of said rigid frames, said connecting means causing movement of said rigid frame in a direction opposite to the movement of said foot pedals; fins supported at the ends of said floats for free swinging movement about generally horizontal axes, said fins being displaceable into a vertical position upon submergence of the float carrying the same; and stop means carried by said floats for stopping said fins at said vertical position wherein said fins act on the water to resist backward movement of the float carrying the same.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including: carriage means having rollers engageable with said floats for supporting said connecting bars on said floats, and means for connecting each of said carriage means to one of said connecting bars for sliding movement along said one of said connecting bars, one of said carriage means being interposed between each of said floats and said connecting bars.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said stop means comprise pins projecting into the path of travel of said fins; and including means operable by a rider for displacing said pins out of the path of travel of the fins carried by either of said floats to render said fins inoperable to resist backward movement of the float.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said means for connecting each of said foot pedals in driving relation with one of said rigid frames comprises: a shaft journaled to one of said connecting bars for rotation about an axis parallel therewith; a lever arm at one end of said shaft, carrying a said foot pedal at its No references cited.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

A. H. FARRELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR WALKING ON WATER, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A PAIR OF SPACED, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL FLOATS; A RIGID FRAME SECURED TO AND EXTENDING OUTBOARD OF EACH OF SAID FLOATS, SAID RIGID FRAMES HAVING FRAME ENDS REMOTE FROM SAID FLOATS; A PAIR OF CONNECTING BARS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS AND ABOVE SAID PAIR OF FLOATS AND HAVING CORRESPONDING OPPOSITE ENDS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME ENDS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID CONNECTING BARS, WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF EITHER OF SAID FLOATS IN ONE DIRECTION COMPELS MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER SAID FLOATS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION; A SEAT SUPPORTED CENTRALLY ABOVE SAID CONNECTING BARS FOR CARRYING A RIDER; HANDLEBARS ADJACENT SAID SEAT AND ADAPTED TO BE GRASPED BY A RIDER; A PAIR OF FOOT PEDALS ADJACENT TO SAID SEAT AND SUPPORTED FOR ACCURATE MOVEMENT ABOUT SECOND AXES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID CONNECTING BARS; MEANS FOR CONNECTING EACH OF SAID FOOT PEDALS IN DRIVING RELATION WITH ONE OF SAID RIGID FRAMES, SAID CONNECTING MEANS CAUSING MOVEMENT OF SAID RIGID FRAME IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID FOOT PEDALS; FINS SUPPORTED AT THE ENDS OF SAID FLOATS FOR FREE SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXES, SAID FINS BEING DISPLACEABLE INTO A VERTICAL POSITION UPON SUBMERGENCE OF THE FLOAT CARRYING THE SAME; AND STOP MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FLOATS FOR STOPPING SAID FINS AT SAID VERTICAL POSITION WHEREIN SAID FINS ACT ON THE WATER TO RESIST BACKWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FLOAT CARRYING THE SAME. 